Signs of Sustainability: Coddington Valley Trail moving forward

By Eric Banford

After years of effort by various dedicated volunteers, the Coddington Valley Trail (tentatively named) is finally coming to fruition. The New York State Public Service Commission approved the sale by NYSEG of an easement to the towns of Ithaca, Dryden, Caroline and Danby for a “rail trail” that will extend the South Hill Rec Trail through all four towns to the Tioga County border.

“A number of us have been working on this for 12-13 years,” said Bill Goodman, former Town of Ithaca Supervisor, who is spearheading the effort. “Town supervisors and others from each town have been working with NYSEG, talking about doing a phased extension of South Hill Rec Way Trail. After lots of back and forth with NYSEG’s legal and real estate departments, we were finally able to get them to agree to an easement,” he shared.

The planning team has been submitting grant applications to do analysis, now that easement has been granted they hope to start work on sections of the trail. “I want to start a ‘Friends Of’ group so we can start organizing some activities,” said Goodman. “In some areas along the trail, neighbors have already been clearing the path on their own. And some folks associated with the Finger Lakes Trail have been keeping sections clear as well. We are hoping that eventually it all gets connected,” he said.

The extended trail will follow the old bed of the Ithaca and Owego Railroad, which was officially charted in 1828. It was the third railroad built in North America, and the longest at the time, connecting Ithaca with Owego. The plan was to connect the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes to the coal fields of Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay. But before it could be completed, the Chemung Canal completed a path from Seneca Lake to Elmira, diverting the hoped for trade route.

The railroad was in use on and off until 1956, when the physical right-of-way was abandoned and control given to NYSEG. Parts of it were later incorporated into the South Hill Recreation Way, this new trail will extend that trail all the way to Tioga County.

Unfortunately, some sections of the trail have culverts washed out by storms so will require extensive work to rebuild. “That’s part of why we plan to do the trail in phases, because some of the sections will be expensive to deal with. That’s why we’re getting grants and doing feasibility studies,” shared Goodman.

Rail Trail projects sometimes face opposition due to safety and privacy concerns from neighbors adjacent to a proposed trail. Studies have consistently shown that activity from trail use actually makes areas safer, which allays some of the concern. “One of the theories is having more eyes out there will decrease problems that might arise because you have people going by,” responded Goodman. “Rail to Trail is not a new thing, they are all over the country and there are lots of different design options for dual use. You can do plantings for privacy, you can work with neighbors. We’ll work with experts to come up with options.”

Goodman is planning an organizational Zoom meeting on Thursday July 10 at 7:00pm. “We’ll start planning work parties, likely beginning in August,” said Goodman. “So far there is lots of interest.”

For Zoom connection information or to be included in future events, email Bill at: billg@ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us.

Eric Banford is an IT geek, a part-time musician/journalist/writer, and is tending an edible forest garden on his family’s farm in Danby NY. Signs of Sustainability is organized by Sustainable Finger Lakes, if you’d like to contribute an article, email: signsofsustainability@gmail.com